{"id":4445,"date":"2015-07-13T10:45:37","date_gmt":"2015-07-13T14:45:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jdhitsolutions.com\/blog\/?p=4445"},"modified":"2015-07-13T10:45:37","modified_gmt":"2015-07-13T14:45:37","slug":"simulating-a-powershell-demo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jdhitsolutions.com\/blog\/powershell\/4445\/simulating-a-powershell-demo\/","title":{"rendered":"Simulating a PowerShell Demo"},"content":{"rendered":"

A number of years ago I published my version<\/a> of a Start-Demo script. In my version, I can create a text file with all of the commands I want to run. It might look like this:<\/p>\n

Get-Date\r\nget-ciminstance win32_logicaldisk | select DeviceID,Size,Freespace\r\n::\r\nget-service |\r\nwhere {$_.status -eq 'running'} |\r\nSelect Name,Status |\r\nFormat-Table -autosize\r\n::\r\nGet-eventlog -list -computername chi-dc04<\/pre>\n
The :: indicate the beginning and end of a multi-line command. This will simulate the >> nested prompt. My function reads this file and \"types\" it out so that it looks like you are typing it. You can control the speed and even introduce typos if you are so inclined. I used this a lot in my Pluralsight courses since I can't seem to talk and type at the same time. <\/p>\n
I was asked about this function so I dusted it off and made a few minor changes. The main change is that you can specify what PowerShell version to display if you want to simulate starting a brand new PowerShell session. The default is your current version.<\/p>\n
Here's the updated function.<\/p>\n
Function Start-TypedDemo {\r\n\r\n<#\r\n.SYNOPSIS\r\nSimulate a PowerShell session\r\n.DESCRIPTION\r\nThis command simulates an interactive PowerShell session. It will process a text file of PowerShell commands. The function will insert your prompt and \"type\" out each command when you press any key. At the end of the typed command or whenever a pipe character is inserted, the script will pause. Press Enter or any key to continue. \r\nIf it is the end of the command pressing Enter will execute the command. Use the -NoExecute parameter to run through the demo without executing any commands. Commented lines will be skipped. Press 'q' or ESC at any pause to quit the demo.\r\n\r\nThis function will NOT run properly in the ISE.\r\n\r\nVARIABLE NAMES\r\nDo not use any variables in your script file that are also used in this script. These are the variables you most likely need to avoid:\r\n\r\n $file\r\n $i\r\n $running\r\n $key\r\n $command\r\n $count\r\n\r\nMULITLINE COMMANDS\r\nTo use a multiline command, in your demo file, put a :: before the first line and :: after the last line:\r\n\r\n\r\nGet-Date\r\n::\r\nget-wmiobject win32_logicaldisk -filter \"Drivetype=3\" | \r\nSelect Caption,VolumeName,Size,Freespace | \r\nformat-table -autosize\r\n::\r\nGet-Process\r\n\r\n\r\nThe function will simulate a nested prompt. Press any key after the last >> to execute. Avoid using the line continuation character.\r\n\r\nTIMING\r\nBy default the function will insert a random pause interval between characters. This is a random value in milliseconds between the -RandomMinimum and -RandomMaximum parameters which have default values of 50 and 140 respectively. \r\nIf you want a static or consisent interval, then use the -Pause parameter. The recommended value is 80.\r\n\r\nTYPOS\r\nThe -IncludeTypo parameter will introduce a typo at random intervals, then backspace over it and insert the correct text. You should not use this parameter with the -Transcript parameter. The transcript will have control characters for every backspace. \r\n\r\nIt is not recommended to use -IncludeTypo when running any sort of transcript.\r\n\r\nSCOPE\r\nAll the commands in your demo script are executed in the context of the Start-TypedDemo function. This means you have to be very aware of scope. While you can access items in the global scope like PSDrives, anything you create in the demo script will not persist. This also means that none of the commands in your demo script will show up in PowerShell history.\r\n\r\nCOMMENTS\r\nAny line that begins with # will be treated as a comment and skipped. If you have a multi-line comment you will need to put a # at the begininng of each line. You can't use PowerShell's block comment characters.\r\n\r\n\r\n.PARAMETER File\r\nThe file name of PowerShell commands to execute\r\n.PARAMETER RandomMinimum\r\nThe minimum time interval between characters in milliseconds. The default is 50.\r\n.PARAMETER RandomMaximum\r\nThe maximum time interval between characters in milliseconds. The default is 140.\r\n.PARAMETER IncludeTypo\r\nWhen specified, the function will simulate typing mistakes. It is not recommended to use this parameter with -Transcript.\r\n.PARAMETER Pause\r\nThe typing speed interval between characters in milliseconds. The recommended value is 100.\r\n.PARAMETER Transcript\r\nThe file name and path for a transcript session file. Existing files will be overwritten. It is not recommended to use this parameter with -IncludeTypo.\r\n.PARAMETER NoExecute\r\nDo not execute any of the commands. \r\n.PARAMETER NewSession\r\nSimulate a new PowerShell session with the copyright header and a prompt. This works best if you start your demo from the C: drive.\r\n.PARAMETER PSVersion\r\nUse this to when simulating a new PowerShell session to depict a specific PowerShell version\r\n\r\n. The default is your current version.\r\n.EXAMPLE\r\nPS C:\\> Start-TypedDemo c:\\work\\demo.txt\r\nRun the commands in c:\\work\\demo.txt using the random defaults\r\n.EXAMPLE\r\nPS C:\\> Start-TypedDemo c:\\work\\demo.txt -pause 100 -NoExecute\r\nRun the commands in c:\\work\\demo.txt using a static interval of 100 milliseconds. The function will only type the commands. They will not be executed.\r\n.EXAMPLE\r\nPS C:\\> Start-TypedDemo c:\\work\\demo.txt -transcript c:\\work\\demotrans.txt\r\nRun the commands in c:\\work\\demo.txt using the random defaults and create a transcript file.\r\n.NOTES\r\nNAME        :  Start-TypedDemo\r\nVERSION     :  5.0\r\nLAST UPDATED:  7\/13\/2015\r\nAUTHOR      :  Jeffery Hicks\r\n\r\nThis function was first published at http:\/\/jdhitsolutions.com\/blog\/scripting\/1473\/friday-fun-start-typeddemo-v2\/\r\n\r\nLearn more about PowerShell:\r\n
Essential PowerShell Learning Resources<\/a><\/blockquote>